Rajasthan Royals (RR) cruised past Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by six wickets in the 16th match of IPL 2026 in Guwahati. After being invited to bat first, RCB posted 201/8 on the scoreboard in 20 overs. Rajat Patidar played a superb knock of 63 runs off 40 balls, while Virat Kohli added a blazing 32 runs off 16 deliveries. Short, blazing cameos from Romario Shepherd and Venkatesh Iyer at the end helped RCB cross the 200-run mark. Ravi Bishnoi (2/32 in 4 overs) was the most successful bowler for Rajasthan Royals, while Jofra Archer and Brijesh Sharma also took two wickets each.
But the storm was yet to come. While chasing, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi lit up the atmosphere with his six-hitting. After losing Yashasvi Jaiswal in the second over, Sooryavanshi added 108 runs with Dhruv Jurel for the second wicket in just 37 deliveries. He played a superb, blazing knock of 78 runs off 26 balls before getting out in the ninth over. Dhruv Jurel continued the assault as Rajasthan Royals cruised past the target with 12 balls to spare. Jurel remained unbeaten on 81 runs off 43 balls, while Ravindra Jadeja, who played a composed knock of 24 runs off 25 balls, supported him well. Krunal Pandya (2/30 in 4 overs) was the most successful bowler for RCB, while Josh Hazlewood also took two wickets. With this win, Rajasthan Royals are now sitting at the top of the table.
Archer and Kohli Provide Early Fireworks
The match began dramatically when Jofra Archer bowled a fierce bouncer to dismiss Phil Salt for a golden duck. Virat Kohli responded aggressively, hitting Archer for three boundaries in the next over.
Archer struck again by removing Devdutt Padikkal, but Kohli continued his attacking approach. He also overcame his struggles against Sandeep Sharma, who had dismissed him seven times earlier, by hitting him for two boundaries.
Still, RCB suffered a setback when Ravi Bishnoi took two quick wickets, reducing them to 73 for 4.
Patidar’s Effort Not Enough
Rajat Patidar initially struggled due to early wickets and played cautiously, reaching 20 off 22 balls. However, he later accelerated and brought up his half-century in 35 balls.
His batting showed control and confidence, especially during his two sixes off Nandre Burger — one a clean loft over long-off and the other a powerful pull over deep square leg.
Despite his efforts, contributions from Romario Shepherd and Tim David were minimal.
Late Cameo Pushes RCB Past 200
RCB introduced Venkatesh Iyer as their Impact Player, replacing Suyash Sharma to strengthen the batting. Iyer made a quick impact with a cameo of 29 runs, helping the team cross the 200-run mark.
However, it proved insufficient as Rajasthan Royals comfortably chased down the target thanks to their explosive start.
Powerplay Assault Seals the Game Early
Sooryavanshi found strong support from Dhruv Jurel, who matched his aggressive style. Together, they crushed RCB’s hopes during the powerplay itself. The duo piled up 97 runs in the first six overs, the highest powerplay score of the season.
Even though RR lost a couple of wickets soon after, the result was never in doubt due to their explosive start.
Sooryavanshi’s Dominance Over Bowlers
RCB got an early breakthrough when Hazlewood dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal in the second over. After being hit for a few sixes, Hazlewood adjusted his length cleverly to induce an edge.
However, the momentum quickly shifted. Sooryavanshi counterattacked with a sequence of boundaries and a six in the very next over. He showcased his versatility by scoring in all directions — cutting short balls, driving fuller deliveries, and pulling bouncers with authority.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar also faced his aggression. Although he almost dismissed Sooryavanshi with an inswinging yorker on the first ball, the batter managed to dig it out for four. Later, Sooryavanshi smashed him for two consecutive sixes to bring up his rapid half-century.
Jurel Keeps the Momentum Going
Keeping pace with such aggressive batting is difficult, but Dhruv Jurel did it with ease. He played fluently without forcing shots and ended the powerplay in style. In one over against Abhinandan Singh, he struck 4, 6, 4, 0, 6, 4, showing excellent timing and control.
Jurel’s quick hands stood out as he picked lengths early and used his wrists effectively to send the ball into the stands. After a brief collapse, he steadied the innings and remained unbeaten on 76 from 36 balls.
He also built a crucial 68-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja for the fifth wicket, ensuring RR crossed the finish line comfortably.
Brief Fightback from RCB Falls Short
Krunal Pandya briefly raised hopes for RCB by dismissing Sooryavanshi and Shimron Hetmyer in quick succession. RR also went through a quiet phase of four overs without a boundary.
However, their earlier dominance gave them enough cushion. RCB’s lack of a specialist spinner, after bringing in Venkatesh Iyer as an impact player instead of Suyash Sharma, further weakened their defense.
Experience and reputation made little difference. After taking on Jasprit Bumrah in a previous match, Sooryavanshi continued his fearless approach against Josh Hazlewood in this game. He dominated the pacer and raced to 78 off just 26 balls before getting out, mistiming a shot to long-on off Krunal Pandya.
By the time he was dismissed, Rajasthan Royals were firmly in control. Chasing 202, they needed just over six runs per over with nearly 12 overs remaining.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi delivered a stunning performance as he matched his own record for the fastest half-century, reaching the milestone in just 15 balls. Playing on a flat pitch in Guwahati, he tore apart the Royal Challengers Bengaluru bowling attack and guided Rajasthan Royals to their fourth straight win.
RCB had earlier smashed seven sixes in their 20 overs, clearly aware of the threat Sooryavanshi posed. However, the young batter responded in even more aggressive fashion, hammering seven sixes himself in a breathtaking display of power-hitting. Stay tuned with JUSZNEWS for regular updates!